Dry throat and a lump in the throat are not a pathology, but only a symptom and a separate disease, that is, such a condition is not an independent nosological unit at all. In fact, this is not even a medical term, such a condition is a complaint with which patients often turn to specialists in general treatment, in otolaryngology, gastroenterology, neurology, and in addition, in pulmonology and so on. The feeling of dryness, sore throat and lump can speak in favor of many different pathological conditions. And here without conducting objective research is indispensable. According to medical statistics, a similar symptom develops in every third person. But as a rule, this is a physiological phenomenon, which is in no way interconnected with any pathological causes. What should you know about this condition?
Physiological causes of pathology
There are actually very few physiological causes of dry throat and coma in the throat. By and large, everything, as a rule, comes down to psychosomatic spasms of the larynx. This can happen due to stress at a time when a large amount of corticosteroids, which are hormones of the adrenal cortex, are released into the bloodstream.
Often, representatives of the weaker sex, along with impressionable personalities and representatives of both sexes, who are characterized by an unstable nervous system, are often subject to the development of this symptom. Many people most likely know the feeling of a lump and dryness in the throat during intense emotional experience. Sometimes this is a physiological norm, but there can be many more pathological factors.
Main causes of the pathological condition
Pathological causes of dry throat and coma in the throat tend to be more numerous. In most situations, the feeling of a lump in the throat can persist for a long time, as the ailments that cause it do not go away on their own. Among the characteristic pathologies, five broad categories can be distinguished.
Inflammation of the oropharynx as a possible disease
So, a person is tormented by dryness in the throat and a lump in the throat. The following diseases may be affected:
- Chronic and acute tonsillitis. Inflammation of the palatine tonsils, which is provoked by bacteria and viruses, such as streptococci or staphylococci. Such pathologies are accompanied by the presence of intense sore throat, burning sensation, respiratory disorders, unpleasantbad breath, the formation of purulent plugs, rashes in the sky and in the region of the tonsils. What other sore throat leads to dry throat?
- Laryngitis. There are inflammatory lesions of the mucous membrane of the larynx. All this can be accompanied by swelling, the appearance of an excruciating strong barking cough that is not relieved by classic medicines, sore throat and neck, and so on.
- Pharyngitis. In this case, there are inflammatory lesions of the oropharynx. The leading manifestation is a change in the timbre of the voice or its absolute disappearance. Symptoms are transient.
In all situations, the cause of dryness and tickling in the throat is swelling. At the same time, patients may feel that there is dryness and lump in the throat due to too much vasodilation, which is a protective reaction in response to the multiplication of pathogenic microscopic organisms in the pharyngeal region. Thus, more blood enters the area of inflammation, along with it, the next immune cells arrive, and their total concentration increases.
Severe edema can cause breathing problems in people, primarily suffocation. At the same time, the patient is not able to perform a full respiratory movement due to the narrowing of the respiratory channels. This is an extremely dangerous phenomenon, in which respiratory failure is quite possible.
It's not just a sore throat that leads to dry throat.
Possible pathologies: thyroid disease
The following are possibleviolations:
- The appearance of diffuse growth of a small endocrine organ. Usually, something like this provokes an excessive amount of special hormonal components, which, as it were, incite the thyroid gland to produce more of a specific hormone. This leads to a functional and anatomical change in the structure of the organ. This is a diffuse goiter. What are the other causes of dry throat? What disease are these symptoms?
- It is quite likely that the thyroid gland is partially enlarged, when a special nodular formation forms on its surface. This is a nodular goiter.
In both situations, the cause of the lump in the throat is an extensive growth of tissue of the endocrine organ, which puts pressure on the larynx and organs of the respiratory channels, thereby provoking a specific feeling with discomfort for a long time, this can happen for years.
What else causes a dry and sore throat?
Pathologies of the digestive system
The following pathologies of the gastroenterological profile may affect:
- The appearance of disorders in the work of the stomach, primarily for reasons associated with gastritis. This condition is an inflammation of the mucous membrane. During the pathological process, intense pain with heartburn develops in the chest and, of course, an excessive amount of acid is released beyond the sphincter into the esophagus. Such a condition may require mandatory correction, as the risks of developing cancer in the digestive system increase.
- Presence of reflux-esophagitis. At the same time, a throw occursstomach contents into the esophagus. In this case, aspiration of hydrochloric acid or food particles is possible. The patient may be disturbed by the characteristic dryness and bitterness in the mouth, along with coughing and burning in the pharynx. This condition is extremely dangerous, as it often causes shortness of breath with suffocation. A fatal outcome is not excluded, especially at night, when the patient is in a horizontal position.
- Having a stomach ulcer. Such a condition can be provoked by the intense action of hydrochloric acid on the walls of the digestive organ, combined with a decrease in the protective properties of the anatomical structure.
The immediate causes of the development of severe dryness in the throat is the release of juice into the esophagus. It is enough to correct the basic condition in order to eliminate disease-causing manifestations.
Anatomical features
Among the anatomical features, the following factors can be distinguished:
- The cause of dryness and a lump in the throat are often violations in the anatomical location of the spine in the cervical region. The leading disease of this region is osteochondrosis. The main reason for the development of such a sensation in the throat is a violation of the innervation of certain parts of the neck. But as practice shows, such symptoms are relatively rare and only with a high lesion of the spinal cord at the level of the first and second vertebrae.
- The presence of a hernia of the esophagus. We are talking about a pathological protrusion of the anatomical structure at different levels of the body. Developthis can be due to a congenital anatomical defect, trauma and malnutrition (that is, excessive food intake). The pathology is localized, as a rule, in the area of the transition of the esophagus to the stomach. The deviation may be asymptomatic, with the exception of the described discomfort. Correction is required exclusively surgical, since drug therapy is futile. However, such symptoms of a hernia of the esophagus can occur only if the vagus nerves are compressed. This is very rare.
- The presence of obesity. It has been proven that in obese patients, the feeling of coma and dryness in the throat can develop much more often. Patients describe this condition as follows: there is a lump in the throat. The reason for this is the deposition of the lipid structure. Fat can act as a kind of goiter and can put pressure on the Adam's apple with the neck, which affects the human condition in a negative way.
- Presence of tumors and tumor structure of the larynx. As a rule, we can talk about a benign neoplasm. Malignant tumors of the respiratory system, nearby anatomical structures and the throat are very rare, requiring correction through surgical methods.
- The appearance of injuries of the larynx. In this case, we speak of secondary reactions. The affected area may become inflamed and swollen, which will subjectively feel like a lump in the throat that persists for a long time.
Other reasons
Other reasons include the following factors:
- Presence of allergic reactions. The immune response can cause a lump in the throat that will not go away for a long time. The reasons lie in the increase in edema of the lower respiratory canals or the upper anatomical structure at the level of the oropharynx. Additionally, dry mouth with perspiration may be observed. Against the backdrop of all this, patients require the use of pharmaceutical antihistamines along with the use of bronchodilators. Otherwise, there is a risk of respiratory failure. Acute reactions, such as angioedema or an asthmatic attack, may well be fatal.
- Influence of parasitic and helminthic invasions. This may happen very rarely, but it does happen. Worms are able to lay eggs in the throat area. Subjectively, this can be perceived as a lump or as a foreign object in the throat. Often this is characteristic of echinococci, tapeworms and some other large parasites.
- Presence of a foreign object in the throat. At the same time, a lump is felt, as special receptors of the larynx and esophagus are irritated. As a rule, in this case we are talking about food particles. Children have a long list of foreign objects, so parents are advised to carefully monitor the behavior of their babies.
- The defeat of the system of the heart and blood vessels leads to dryness in the throat and mouth. Usually we are talking about coronary heart disease and its insufficiency of congestive type.
- Presence of tumors and tumor-like structures of the brain. Neoplasias can provoke false sensations of a lump inthroat, the patient may feel dizzy.
- Influence of psychogenic factors. The occurrence of depression, neurosis and other conditions may lead to psychosomatic manifestations.
This is not an exhaustive list of possible causes, although they are the ones most commonly encountered by doctors.
What accompanies a dry throat and a lump in the throat?
Associated symptoms
A lump in the throat that cannot be felt with the hand is a frequent manifestation of many different pathological processes. But this is far from the only one. Most often they talk about a whole complex of pathological symptoms:
- Presence of feeling short of breath. The presence of shortness of breath, that is, an increase in the number of respiratory movements, and suffocation, which is the inability to perform a full movement due to obstruction reasons. Usually such a symptom has absolutely nothing to do with a lump, but is adjacent directly to it.
- The appearance of a burning sensation along with itching, which can be provoked by intense coughing without separation of mucous exudate and sputum.
- The occurrence of a feeling of itching in the throat. In this case, there may be a desire to comb the affected area with the tongue. This is observed mainly in the presence of allergic reactions.
- The occurrence of a foreign body in the pharynx and respiratory canals.
It is also possible to experience pain of different localization along with heartburn, belching air, food and many other manifestations.
Where to deal with the feeling of dryness inthroat?
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosing is not difficult, even despite the multiplicity of probable causes of deviation. But it is required to examine the patient very carefully. First, it is recommended to consult a therapist. Only then, it may be necessary to consult specialized specialists in the form of gastroenterologists, neurologists, otolaryngologists or pulmonologists. The following diagnostic measures are prescribed:
- Blood test. This analysis is done in order to exclude probable inflammatory processes in the affected area. In the event that leukocytosis is observed along with a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, then it will be necessary to look for the root of the current problem in inflammation. In the presence of eosinophilia, the likelihood of helminthic invasions or allergies is very high.
- Urine analysis study. This analysis is used to diagnose problems with the body, but it is less informative.
- Examination of the thyroid gland by injecting a radioisotope solution intravenously. This is a very reliable diagnostic technique.
- FGDS as part of the examination of the stomach and esophagus.
- Performing radiography of organs in different projections and magnetic resonance therapy to detect osteochondrosis.
- Comprehensive otolaryngological examination, including laryngoscopy and other methods.
In the system of the above measures, this will be quite enough to establish and verify the diagnosis.
Treatment depending on the underlying disease
What to do with constant dryness in the throat?
Inflammation of the oropharynx is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as corticosteroids, antiseptics and antibacterial drugs. It is very important in this matter to stop the root causes of the disease and drown out the main symptoms.
Thyroid diseases are treated with iodine preparations or by limiting the use of this element. In extreme cases, people need surgery. Pathologies of the digestive system and stomach are treated with antacids and proton pump inhibitors and so on.
Treatment of dry throat should be comprehensive.
Osteochondrosis is stopped by anti-inflammatory drugs, and in addition, by wearing a special corset and through muscle relaxants. Analgesics also help. True, by and large it is absolutely impossible to cope with such a disease, it will only be possible to relieve the symptoms.
Esophageal hernia and tumors can only be removed by surgery, and obesity is removed by diet. In general, treatment should be appropriate and adequate to the underlying disease. Only the doctor chooses the therapy option.
A lump in the throat is a very common complaint in specialist appointments. But it is not the symptom that needs to be cured, but the disease itself. This is the only way to achieve quality results.
Reviews
As doctors write in reviews, people often complain about thisa symptom like a lump in the throat and the presence of dryness. People write that this condition is manifested in them by a feeling of lack of air, and sometimes even a burning sensation and itching in the throat.
Sometimes dry throat after taking drugs happens.
As doctors and patients themselves say, basically a similar symptom is associated with inflammation of the oropharynx of a different nature, with pathologies of the thyroid gland, digestive system and anatomical features. For adequate treatment and competent elimination of the problem, it is necessary to consult a doctor and conduct an examination.
We looked at the main causes of dry throat. It is now clear what diseases these symptoms correspond to.
